Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.
Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.
We are seeking an Employment Counsel for our First Quality Enterprises company working remotely. This position will be responsible for providing day-to-day legal support to the Company’s Human Resources team and business leaders for employment matters on variety of employment issues. The role reports to the Chief Employment Counsel.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Serve as a legal advisor to HR and management on employment matters across the employee lifecycle, including accommodation and leave administration, temporary labor compliance, background and drug screening, E-Verify and I-9 compliance, disciplinary actions and terminations, labor and independent contractor contracts, immigration and cross-border business travel, and other matters
- Draft company policies and advise business stakeholders on implementing, interpreting, and enforcing policies in accordance with best practices
- Counsel on compliance with federal and state employment laws and monitor evolving regulatory developments
- Update employee-related agreements, handling restrictive covenant matters, reviewing, and drafting policies and procedures as necessary to support the human resources team, and developing and conducting training on legal developments.
- Handle and advise on pre-litigation and litigation-related matters, including employee complaints, accommodation, wage and hour issues, etc.
- Assess legal risk and provide practical, business-oriented guidance to internal stakeholders
- Draft and negotiate employment-related agreements, policies, and internal documentation
- Manage and engage outside counsel on employment litigation, immigration, legislation, policy development and other matters.
The ideal candidate should possess the following:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in employment law counseling and employment/litigation
- J.D. and active bar membership required
- In-house experience required
- Some prior litigation experience a plus
- Strong working knowledge of various state and federal employment laws (including FMLA, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, ERISA, and state law counterparts).
- Workers’ compensation experience is a plus
- Immigration experience is a plus
- Ability to drive change resulting from legal developments
- Strong analytic and communications skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with wide range of diverse internal clients and colleagues in fast-paced environment.
- Ability to effectively prioritize work amongst competing priorities
- Ability to manage a high-volume, varied workload independently
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate legal concepts for non-legal audiences
- Collaborative and business-minded approach
Travel to First Quality sites is required – both office and manufacturing sites
What We Offer You
We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:
- Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
- Paid time off (three-week minimum)
- Medical, dental and vision starting day one
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid parental leave
- Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $3750)
- Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
- Tuition assistance
- Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
- ...and more!
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.
Skills Required
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in employment law counseling and employment litigation
- J.D. degree
- Active bar membership
- In-house legal experience
- Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment laws, including FMLA, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, ERISA, and state counterparts
- Ability to drive change resulting from legal developments
- Strong analytical and communication skills
- Ability to collaborate with diverse internal clients and colleagues in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities
- Ability to manage a high-volume, varied workload independently
- Ability to translate legal concepts for non-legal audiences
- Collaborative and business-minded approach
- Prior litigation experience
- Workers' compensation experience
- Immigration experience
First Quality Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about First Quality and has not been reviewed or approved by First Quality.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is described as competitive across many hourly, technical, and engineering roles, with pay often characterized as good or fair for the job. Market-aligned base rates are reflected in recent postings and salary entries across multiple functions.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Quarterly bonuses, shift differentials, and overtime opportunities are commonly cited and meaningfully boost total earnings. Bonus eligibility appears to be a consistent feature in many roles.
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Parental & Family Support — The package includes paid parental leave, a year of free diapers for new parents, and employer-matched dependent care assistance. These family-focused additions complement core offerings and signal an emphasis on supporting caregivers.
First Quality Insights
What We Do
First Quality was founded over 30 years ago and has grown to become a diversified family of companies with over 4,000 employees. Manufacturing Adult Incontinence Products, Feminine Hygiene Products, Baby Wipes, Adult Washcloths, and Consumer Paper Products, we serve institutional and retail markets throughout the world. Our trusted, household brands include Prevail®, Cuties®, Plenty®, Panda®, and Incognito® Our facilities operate independently to maintain focus on the markets they serve, but benefit from being a part of the First Quality family of companies. We may be spread out across 9 locations and 2 countries, but we are one team! With our focus on innovation, technology, and sustainability, we strive to create the best products that stand out and make a real difference in people’s lives without ever sacrificing quality for affordability. If advanced technology, innovative thinking, and a passion for challenging the status quo excite you, come join our team at First Quality! When you look at one of our job listings what you’ll find is an opportunity: to meet teams who challenge each other to improve, encounter leaders who empower you to experiment, and discover work that inspires you. As a new employee in our FQ family your training begins day one and continues throughout your career as you learn and grow with our organization. Be part of making things better – apply today to join our team at www.firstquality.com/join-us!
